Sunday, October 15, 2006

It’s been long, very long since I gave some feed to my page. Actually, I had nothing much to write about, or I had lost my nose for news!! So I thought I’ll scribble something on the daily Chennai, because that’s the only thing new.(Sorry Chennaiites, my jottings about your city and the familiar sights might not be interesting to you. These are what kicked up curiosity in this lonely mallu, who’s out of his home for the first time!)

Let's begin with plagiarism. This is a forward I got just now.

The following is an excerpt from a blog (written by an Indian in America) Wednesday, September 28, 2005

EN PER PEDUM PAADU!!!

My full name is Kalaivani, but I call myself Kalai. This is not for scene, ...like how Madhavan does in Anbe Sivam (Anbarasu --> Ars).it has a looooong and pathetic history... I started hearing different versions of my name after coming to this country, and the painful fact is all the possible permutations and combinations of vowels in my name give meaningful words in tamil!!!

When I first joined the university, my professor wrote to me.. Dear KALAvani (meaning: thief; context: kalavani paya..) ... ... ... Sari adhuvachum typo nu free ya vittudalam.. Then after a year, I joined a company for internship.those people called me before I joined, to inform me about some test which I had to take.. "Hello is this Ms. Kizhavaani?" (meaning: old; context : kizha bolt..etc.) "No..this is KALAIvaani" "Ohh..am sorry KALAvaani" (Marupadiyum...)

Then I decided. Periya pera irukkinala thane ivlo confusion?!! So, I started calling myself 'Kalai'... but the story continued..

I joined my full-time position in another company recently. On my first day, we had a meeting.. "Let's all welcome our new associate.Ms. Kulai" (meaning: bunch; context: kulai kulaiyai vazhaipazham kaaithadhu) CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Followed by smiles. (Dei. ennangada... ellarum serndhu comedy panreengala???) Anniku arambichadhu...

Once my boss and I were talking about a project... after finishing the meeting... "Ok, Kali. Nice to have you here!" (meaning: last yuga; context: kali muthi pochu.) "That's KALAI" (Enakku idhu thevaya?!) "Ohh kAALi?" (meaning: goddess; context: badrakaali..)"Hee hee .very close" (Podaannnggg...!!)So, I stopped correcting my name after that..!

"Hey Kalaai!!" "Yea?" "Just trying to say your name. Ha ha ha" "Ohhh ..how sweet!" (thooo thEri..) Yedho vaandhi edukkira effect la per irundhalum... my life was in peace... until few days back... My net connection was down, so I called up the customer service (En kiragam. Madras call center ku pochu!) Enakku andha vishayame theriyala. So I started in complete American accent... "Your name ma'am?" "Kalaai" "What? Can you repeat ma'am?" "Kalaai as in kaleidoscope" "I didn't get that ma'am. Can I have your number? I can check the records" (Sigh!... and gave the number) "Ohh, Kalaivani, right?" (in a sarcastic tone.) (Ada paavi makka... nee nammooora??!!! All American accents stopped. Back to Indian accent.) I could clearly see what he was thinking... per paatha 'urs pammingly' nu podra category maathiri irukku... scene podradhu mattum princess Diana range kaa...